For the Major: A Novelette

"For the Major: A Novelette" by Constance Fenimore Woolson is a work of fiction written in the late 19th century. The story revolves around the lives of the Carroll family, particularly focusing on the relationship between Major Carroll and his daughter, Sara, as well as the complexities introduced by the presence of his second wife, Madam Carroll. The narrative explores themes of familial bonds, personal identity, and the shifting dynamics of love and recognition within a family structure. The opening of the novelette introduces Edgerley, a small community settled at the foot of the Chillawassee Mountain, and sets up a contrast between the more commercial lower Edgerley and the quaint, rustic charm of Far Edgerley, where the Carroll family resides. As Sara returns home after a long absence, her joy is dampened by an unexpected emotional distance from her father, who is adapting to life with his new wife. The narrative establishes the dynamics among the characters, highlighting Sara's deep affection for her father, her growing sense of loss due to his change, and the challenges she faces in reestablishing her relationship with him. Through moments of tenderness and introspection, readers are drawn into the complexities of love, loyalty, and the search for acceptance in a familial setting. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Constance Fenimore Woolson was an American novelist, poet, and short story writer. She was a grandniece of James Fenimore Cooper, and is best known for fictions about the Great Lakes region, the American South, and American expatriates in Europe.